Benefits of an Underwater Treadmill
Walking or jogging in water with a treadmill provides extra support that takes the pressure off the joints. This allowsolder or arthritic dogs to exercise without increasing their pain and discomfort.
Water resistance increases the intensity of workouts while reducing the impact on joints and muscles. This is great for rehabilitation and conditioning.
Improved Cardiovascular Endurance
Running on an underwater treadmill allows runners to maintain their fitness goals and get back into the game quicker after an injury. This method of exercise is more effective than land training because it strengthens leg muscles more effectively and puts less stress on the joints. The turbulence created by the water also increases muscle intensity, making it ideal for a pre-marathon workout.
In one study, 8 weeks of water running improved leg strength, balance and walking performance in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries. This improvement could lead to a wider use of the underwater treadmill for home and clinic-based gait training in patients with lower limb injuries, disease or obesity.
Water is a natural lubricant for the joints, and the body’s weight is reduced by approximately 80 percent in the water. This decrease in weight allows for more movement and flexibility, and helps Underwater treadmill reduce pain caused by inflammation of the muscles and joints.
Unlike running on a traditional treadmill, which requires the muscles to contract against resistance in order to run forward, an underwater treadmill allows for a more natural stride. This allows the therapist to work with the client in ways that mimic running on land, which builds muscle mass and can increase endurance.
Many athletes choose to supplement their land routine with underwater treadmill running, including Olympic long-distance runner Mo Farah. For most patients, starting out with short sessions of walking on the treadmill and gradually increasing the length of the session is a good way to begin.
Increased Flexibility
While most people are aware of the cardiovascular benefits that an underwater treadmill provides, less well known is the increased flexibility it offers. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight, thus reducing stress on joints and muscles. This allows patients to move at a faster rate without placing excessive strain on their joints and bones, while still engaging in healthy ranges of motion to encourage musculoskeletal healing and recovery.
Increasing the duration of workouts in an underwater treadmill also improves cardiovascular stamina. The turbulence of jets in our HydroWorx pool can also be used to increase the intensity of the workout, increasing the exertion level and helping patients achieve their fitness goals.
The sensory effects of the warm water in an aquatic treadmill also provide increased flexibility for our patients. The weightlessness of the water and the massage hose on our AquaWorx pool helps relax joints and muscles, increasing flexibility for all types of movement and cardiovascular activities.
Whether your dog is recovering from a physical injury or struggling with chronic musculoskeletal issues, the underwater treadmill may be the right choice for them to help build muscle mass and improve their quality of life. If your pet is hesitant to use the treadmill or feels nervous about moving around in an unfamiliar environment, our veterinary team will slowly introduce them to the equipment and ensure they are comfortable before progressing to any physical exercises.
Increased Strength
The unweighted environment of an underwater treadmill allows for a greater range of movement to be performed while decreasing the stress on joints. This is especially important in older adults who may suffer from hip or leg injuries. In addition, the gait training created in an underwater treadmill helps create proper biomechanics that can carry over to land movements.
Many post-surgical and neurologic patients experience muscle atrophy, especially in the lower extremities. Walking on a treadmill in warm water can help improve strength and regain lost mobility, even for patients who have been sidelined by an injury.
Athletes are also gravitating toward treadmill pools to perform cardiovascular and strength training. Elite coach Alberto Salazar has his distance runners run on an aquatic’mill to keep up with their high workout frequencies without increasing their joint-stress loads.
In a study published in the journal J Spinal Cord Med, researchers observed the effects of an underwater treadmill on gait performance and muscle-strengthening in participants with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Participants in the water-based exercise program showed Underwater treadmill a significant increase in walking speed and decrease in time to complete the walk. In contrast, the control group who underwent the same exercises on a traditional treadmill showed no improvement in either walking speed or time to completion of the walk. Additionally, the participants in the pool-based exercise program had greater improvements in thigh and calf muscle strength than those on the traditional treadmill.
Improved Pain Relief
The buoyancy of the water and the warmth of the treadmill pool helps alleviate pain from arthritis, muscle strains, joint injuries and other conditions. The larger surface area of the water also amplifies resistance, which increases muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. According to a study by TAMU, athletes who use an underwater treadmill in addition to on-land training see greater gains in body weight and lean muscle mass.
Unlike running on regular land-based treadmills, which can cause a great deal of stress on joints, an aquatic treadmill reduces the impact by up to 90%. This allows individuals with osteoarthritis and other conditions to get a full lower body workout, core conditioning and cardio training with less pain.
The underwater treadmill can also be used to perform walking exercises that improve balance, flexibility and gait patterns. For example, a patient with limited stifle and hock flexion after cruciate surgery can use the treadmill to perform an exaggerated walking pattern that improves range of motion.
The higher viscosity of the water also makes it harder to fall off a treadmill. This is particularly helpful for older adults who have a fear of falling or who have trouble maintaining their balance. Our expert therapists help their clients navigate the treadmill safely and comfortably.